Ukrainian interdenominational Christian mission "Religious and charitable care in prisons" started work in Dnipropetrovsk

February 16, 2015 Ukrainian interdenominational Christian mission "Religious and charitable care in prisons" began work in Dnipropetrovsk. 11 Board Members Mission, who represent Christian religious communities and who cooperate with domestic penal institutions, gathered in the conference hall of the office of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine in Dnepropetrovsk region to assess the prospects of cooperation and Christian denominations of penitentiary institutions.

Head of regional administration of the SPS General Major of internal service Vladimir Kuzmenko greeted participants of visiting meeting in Dnipropetrovsk, also thanked representatives of religious confessions for good work in regional offices and wished success in further cooperation. Head of the Board Mission Archpriest Victor Yatsenko told the audience about goal of the Mission, which was made since creation and tasks for the near future. Each of the board members had the opportunity to present activities of their communities and outline solvable issues penitentiary institutions. Head of Social and Psychological work with inmates of the SPS of Ukraine Colonel of internal service Igor Andrushko told about role of the clergy in cooperation with the organization of social, educational and psychological work with inmates, and hope that the state has in this direction of work.

Mission work was continuing in Information agency “Most Dnepr”, where was held press conference dedicated to visiting session. Journalists were interested in the number of prisoners who attend religious services, mutual relations that formed between the clergy and prison staff, and influence, which are activities carry out jointly with representatives of various religious faiths, to correction and resocialization of convicts. “The state pays great attention to creating favorable conditions for the implementation convicted and imprisoned persons of their right to worship, - said Igor Andrushko. - Without the help of clergy, whatever confession it did not represent, we can not do. Namely to create the most optimal mechanism of interaction between them and the Prison Service, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in the first reading was adopted the Law of Ukraine "On the chaplaincy," that is why today Ukrainian interdenominational Christian mission "Religious and charitable care in prisons started work in Dnipropetrovsk."

Mission will work two days and during this two days the members of the Board will get acquaint with creation in penitentiary institutions the terms of realization the rights on worship of convicted and imprisoned people and discuss urgent issues of its involvement.

Yaroslav Kostyuchenko,
Administration of the State Penitentiary Service of
Ukraine in Dnipropetrovsk region